The new passport gold rush: Wealthy Americans flock to Latin America and Asia for citizenship

Tech Insider : Economy, Business, Sports
View of the city of Santiago and the Andes Mountains, taken from the Metropolitan Park on July 2, 2024.
Latin America is emerging as a key destination for wealthy Americans seeking second passports.

RODRIGO ARANGUA/AFP via Getty Images

I always thought I was a first-generation American. At 58, I learned I've been a German citizen my whole life.

Tech Insider : Travel, Travel, Business
Christina Daves in her graduation gow,n standing between her German father and mother
The author (middle) didn't know that her German father (left) became an American citizen after she was born.

Courtesy of Christina Daves

Melania Trump recalled navigating a 'labyrinth' of paperwork to become a US citizen in a rare public appearance at the National Archives

Tech Insider : Politics
Melania Trump speaks at the National Archives
Former first lady Melania Trump speaks during a naturalization ceremony as 25 immigrants were sworn in as US citizens at the National Archives in Washington, DC, on December 15.

Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images

Russians, Iranians, and Chinese spark security fears after taking $100,000 shortcut for citizenship in a Caribbean paradise

Tech Insider : Politics
Beach with coconut palms near the village of Cabrits on the Caribbean island of Dominica in evening sunshine.
The Caribbean island of Dominica sold thousands of passports to foreigners.

Avalon / Getty

Interest in 2nd passports among the uber-wealthy is at 'an all-time high' amid mounting political uncertainty, an investor network boss said

Tech Insider : Travel
Close-Up Midsection Of Woman Holding Passport
Rich investors increasingly want to get second passports, Bloomberg reported.

Greg Blomberg/EyeEm via Getty Images

COVID showed the rich that they can't just go wherever they want, so now millionaires are rushing to get 2nd passports: report

Tech Insider : Economy
A swimmer dives into the water in the Bosphorus strait in Istanbul's Bebek district on July 29, 2022.
Turkey was a stand-out during the pandemic and saw almost 1,000 visa applications per month from wealthy individuals, per London School of Economics professor Kristin Surak.

Ozan Kose/AFP via Getty Images

Subscribe to Citizenship